Amex Platinum Refresh: Here's Everything You Need to Know
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We've seen this before: When Amex announces it's "refreshing" The Platinum Card® from American Express, it usually means two things: flashier perks and a higher annual fee. And 2025 is likely no different.
American Express has confirmed a major refresh for the Amex Platinum Card before the end of the year. That makes right now a crucial window if you're thinking about applying. Locking in the current $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) for your first year could save you hundreds of dollars while giving you time to test drive the card's new benefits.
Let's dig into everything you need to know.
What's changing with the Amex Platinum Card
Amex hasn't revealed every detail yet, but here's what we know so far:
- Likely annual fee hike coming: Multiple reports suggest the Amex Platinum Card's annual fee will jump up by the time the refresh goes live.
- Perks and credits could be expanding: Expect new lifestyle and travel credits, but more in the "coupon book" style Amex has leaned on recently -- valuable if you'll use them, wasted if you won't.
- Potential shifts in earning and redemption: Insiders point to updates in the Membership Rewards® ecosystem, possibly boosting travel redemptions through Amex Travel while narrowing value elsewhere.
Why it matters if you apply now
Here's the play: if you apply before the refresh, you'll lock in the current $695 fee for your first year. That could give you:
- A chance to test new perks at the old price.
- Potential to "double dip" annual credits if the refresh rolls over benefits at a different time.
- Breathing room before higher fees kick in.
Think of it as paying yesterday's prices for tomorrow's perks.
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Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
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This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome offer. Terms apply.
Read Full Review -
- Big welcome offer
- Substantial spending credits
- Airport lounge access
- Hotel benefits
- Flexible travel points
- Annual fee
- Limited bonus categories
- Spending credits can be complicated to manage
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- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
The math behind the potential annual fee bump
Let's say the fee rises from $695 to $795. That's an extra $100 out of pocket each year. Over just three years, you're out $300 more for essentially the same core travel perks you get today, like airport lounge access and elite hotel status. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
If you grab the card now, you sidestep that first $100 increase. Combine that with the chance to stack credits twice in your first year, and you could easily offset $500 or more in value just by timing your application.
Learn more about the Amex Platinum Card in our full review and apply today to take advantage of the current annual fee.
Who the card still makes sense for
Despite the $695 price tag, the Amex Platinum Card remains one of the best cards for frequent travelers. The lounge access alone (Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club when flying Delta) can be worth hundreds every year. Add in the $200 airline fee credit, hotel upgrades, and Uber credits, and the math works out fast if you travel even semi-regularly. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
The real question is whether you'll use the credits Amex offers. If they align with your lifestyle, the card will keep its crown. If they don't, a higher fee could sting.
The takeaway
Amex is likely about to make the Amex Platinum Card shinier, pricier, and either more rewarding or more frustrating. If you've been on the fence, this might be your best window to apply and lock in today's offer before the refresh takes hold.
You can compare the best travel credit cards here for alternatives, but if the Amex Platinum Card fits your habits, moving before the refresh could be one of the easiest financial wins you make this year.
Our Research Expert
Jake is a full-time Editorial Strategist for Motley Fool Money. He specializes in product ratings and all things credit cards, and wants to make sure each person has the best card for them.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express.
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here